His loss compounds the pre-season defection of fellow key forward Kurt Tippett to the Sydney Swans.

Crows football manager Phil Harper said that while he hoped replacements could be found from within the playing group, he wouldn't rule out putting an offer to 'Buddy'.

"Josh Jenkins has shown some good signs this year, Shaun McKernan showed some good signs on the weekend, Lewis Johnston's played well in the SANFL for a while," Harper said of the club's current forward stocks.

"Then there's always the free agency route as well, of course Buddy Franklin or somebody like that would be nice – whether he wants to come to Adelaide or not [I don't know].

"I know there's a few people putting their hands up for him and maybe we'll do that as well.

"If he was interested, we would certainly put something there."

If one of the game's biggest stars was interested in becoming a Crow, the price tag required to secure his signature would pose an issue.

Harper was well aware the intense interest in luring Franklin away from Hawthorn would mean it would stretch the salary caps of most clubs.

"I wouldn't think we could outbid the world, no," he said.

"You've got a salary cap and you've got to stay within it."

Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.